Fleeing police, drug-related charges lodged in Lycoming County district courts
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Motorcyclist faces charges for allegedly fleeing state trooper
After being pulled over by a state trooper on Route 87 at the Interstate 180 overpass in Montoursville about 8:20 p.m. on June 30, motorcyclist Donovan Isaac Morse, 19, of 2916 McKinney St., took off at a high rate of speed, entering the westbound lanes of the four-lane highway, it was alleged in an affidavit. "He traveled in between vehicles without regard" for the safety of other motorists, police allege. Another trooper heading eastbound on I-180 saw the same motorcyclist traveling at an estimated speed of "well over 100 mph."
No pursuit took place because the trooper who stopped him already knew what he looked like, court records stated. Days later, with the help of the internet, the trooper found a profile picture and identification of the biker who fled from him, police said. Charged with recklessly endangering another person, fleeing police and 10 summary violations, including driving without a motorcycle license, Morse has waived his preliminary hearing before District Judge Gary Whiteman and is free on $5,000 bail.
Six charged with drug offenses in separate cases
When questioned by a city police officer in the 600 block of Grace Street about 5 a.m. on Aug. 5, Anthony Tyrone Ransom denied having any drugs in his possession, according to an affidavit. However, as he was being searched, a small package that contained one crack cocaine rock fell to the ground, police alleged in an affidavit. During a search, a second of the same controlled substance was found, police said, adding that Ransom, 49, of 460 William St., had a total of 2.8 grams of crack cocaine on him, it was alleged. The officers then obtained two search warrants that -- once signed -- allowed them to examine Ransom's car and a backpack.
When it was all over, police seized 209 grams of marijuana, 5.1 grams of methamphetamine, 5.1 grams of heroin, 2.7 grams of crack cocaine, 170 ecstasy pills, an assortment of drug paraphernalia and a handgun that was in a black case, court papers stated. A convicted felon not to possess a firearm, Ransom was arraigned late Wednesday morning before District Judge Christian Frey on charges of possession with intent to deliver controlled substances, possession of controlled substances, convicted felon not to possess a firearm and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was committed to the Lycoming County Prison in lieu of $95,000 bail.
In another case, Jamarr Ritter, 32, of 823 W. Third St., has been charged with one felony count of delivery of a controlled substance for allegedly selling $100 worth of cocaine to an informant in the 700 block of West Third Street in the city on June 27, according to court records filed by the county's Narcotics Enforcement Unit. Following his arraignment before Frey, Ritter was released on $25,000 bail.
In another case involving the narcotics unit, when Jordan Andrew Artley, 22, of 2405 W. Fourth St., was committed to the county prison on a probation on Aug. 15, he had in his possession 3.66 grams of cocaine that were discovered during a strip search, it was alleged in court papers. A passenger in a pickup truck, he was taken into custody during a vehicle stop at West Fourth and Diamond streets in the city, investigators said. On the truck's passenger-side floor was a handgun, investigators said. Artley was previously convicted in Lackawanna County of a felony charge of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, an affidavit stated. He was arraigned Tuesday before Frey on charges of possession of a controlled substance, convicted felon not to possess a firearm, carrying a firearm without license, possession of contraband (for bringing drugs into the jail) and tampering with evidence after allegedly trying to flush the cocaine down a toilet before it was seized by a corrections officer. Artley was recommitted in lieu of $50,000 bail.
In another case, Frey also arraigned Troy Purnell, 56, of 846 Second St., on the same felony charge after Purnell sold $100 worth of methamphetamine to an informant in the 100 block of Maynard Street in the city on Aug. 24, investigators with the narcotics unit alleged in court papers. He is free on $15,000 bail.
In another case, the narcotics unit arrested Ernest Jackson, 50, of 1690 Taylor Place, for his alleged involvement in three crack cocaine sales to an informant that took place between Jan. 6 and Jan. 24 on Brandon Place in the city, according to court records. Arraigned before District Judge Aaron Biichle on three felony counts each of delivery of a controlled substance and illegal use of a cellphone, Jackson has since waived his hearing and is free on $75,000 bail. The same narcotics unit has also charged him with selling cocaine at West Fourth and Rose streets in the city Jan. 31. He is free on bail in that case.
In another case before Biichle, the narcotics unit also charged Chistopher Hill, 39, of 615 Campbell St., with selling 2.6 grams of crack cocaine to an undercover officer on River Avenue in Loyalsock Township on Jan. 6, court records stated. He also allegedly took part in selling the same controlled substance to an informant at Lycoming and Elmira streets in the city on Feb. 22, according to investigators. Following his preliminary hearing last week, he was held for court on two counts of delivery of a controlled substance and one count of illegal use of a cellphone. He is free on $75,000 bail.